| A Historical Sketch of the Founding of the Rome Wesleyan Church On Tuesday night, October 6, 1885, the house of N.C. Shepard at No. 9 Court Street was filled to overflowing with men and women who had gathered there for a serious purpose. They were about to organize the First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Rome, New York. Mr. Shepard had attended the founding of the Wesleyan Methodist denomination at Utica, New York in 1843. No. 9 Court Street, next to the park, exists today as 103 West Court Street, the offices of Dr. Feeney. The meeting was called to order 8:00 PM by Rev. Nathan Wardner, President of the Wesleyan Methodist Denomination, headquartered in Syracuse. After Rev. Wardner made clear the doctrine and principles, 71 persons declared their desire to form a Rome affiliation. For a time, services were held at the Free Methodist Church on Embargo Street, and their minister alternated with Wesleyan supply pastors, including President Wardner. The need for a new building was soon felt and a lot at the corner of Court & Jay streets was purchased by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society of Syracuse. Ground was broken July 9, 1889 and a bee was held to dig the basement. Worked progressed rapidly and by August 15, the building was ready for plastering! It is still a sturdy structure with roof straight and true nearly 120 years later. Sunday school rooms were added in the early 1900's, and for a time, the pastor's family resided there. Now a large parsonage is located on Croton Street. Thirty pastors have served Rome Wesleyans as the Word of God radiated into the community. The Rome Wesleyan Church works in harmony with the District Offices and the Central New York District as a whole, including Chambers Campground near Watkins Glen. Our current pastor, Steven W. Bauman comes to us from Mill Hall, Pennsylvania where he and his wife Donna were extremely active in the puppet ministry and other tasks at Majestic Mountain Fellowship Wesleyan Church. |
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